size,pace,bass articulation,imageing,detail,transparency

no grill's,tendency to tip

I loved my VR4's and still believe they are among the best values available in high end, full range speakers. Alas,I live in a moderate size apt. here in Manhattan and the simple fact was the VR4's were to big for the space. I had ocassion to stop at Sound by Singer to audition the new cj pre-amp. Ted Smith,the very able salesman, used the Virgo"s in the demo setup.With familiar recordings on hand I was amazed at what I had been missing. The music flowed with a pace that was irresistable and bass detail I'd never heard before, faster and more articulate than the VR4"s.Ted advised that I let myself go with the "gestalt" of the music and I soon realized that I was actually having fun listening to music again.The top end was accurate without being agressive and the mid-range blending nicely in the tonal balance. obviously I'm convinced.Ted demoed the virgo"s using tubes(VTL)while I'm using them with solid state (Mark Levinson 331). Can anyone reccomend a synergistic power amp match?

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Vandersteen 2CI, Von Schweikert VR4's

Details; Timbral accuracy; Soundstage layering...anything you expect from true music

Some midbass bump

1. The positioning is very critical. The tonal balance might change with as little as inches.

2. Work best with tube gear. My Klimo Merlin preamp (never sold in U.S.) let the Virgo shines.

3. Need a good amp. I tried several ones and finally settled with German Symphonic-Line RG-1.

4. May sound poor at dealer's place if not properly set-up.

Once things are settled down, the Virgo can give enormous musical enjoyment. Virgo has unique abiltiy to persuade you that you're listening to real musical events. The best speakers I've heard to date. If your budget is USD10000, look no further.

Highly recommended.

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Auditioned: B&W N802; Dynaduio Contour 2.8, Confidence; Thiel 2.3

magic, 3D, highs, nice midbass

Positioning is difficult, setup requires lots of patience

If you don't like these speakers, you haven't heard them in a good setup. Positioning is very, very critical, it can take days or even weeks of experimenting before you'll find an ideal position, but then they'll deliver pure magic. Read the manual and dare to experiment with totaly different positions, you can learn a lot and the result can be a realistic live soundstage in your room. I'll bet a lot of Virgo owners don't get the maximum because positioning is so critical, more than any other speaker I know. I've heard this speaker at many dealers, but no dealer was able to create a soundstage like I have at home (my room is an acoustic mess, so it must be possible everywhere).

The Virgo's are rich, neutral and relaxed sounding but they also keep on suprising me with striking sounds. The highs are super, able to reproduce the exact sound of copper, there are not many speakers I've heard with this kind of treble.
Some consider the midbass presence a weakness, I think it's a nice warm character of the Virgo. Another possible weakness could be limited dynamics (lean bass), this can be a positioning problem: if you have a clear, sharp focused soundstage you'll get better dynamics too (once a good position is found experment with the amount of toe-out, more toe-out gives more depth but less focus), in my setup they deliver good dynamics, attention grabbing when they need to (my amp is a Plinius 8200 integrated).

A speaker like the Nautilus 803 is tonally more refined in detail (at each frequency), but is not able to deliver that live soundstage, the total acoustics of instruments are much better reproduced by the Virgo's. The more expensive Avalons can, but they also need bigger, more expensive amps to create this kind of magic, otherwise they can sound flat.

The Virgo 2 will be a legendary speaker, let's hope the Virgo 3 will be equally good. Finally don't believe those German magazines who rate the Virgo's relatively low compared to B&W etc, it's just not true, obviously they've never had the full Virgo experience.

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B&W Nautilus series, Kef RDM+Reference series, Avalon, Wilson Audio, Sonus Faber, Dynaudio, JM Reynaud, Vienna Acoustics, Thiel, Pro ac, Dunlavy, Martin Logan, etc.

I traded up from the Thiels, which I loved, that I had for two years. This was the only part of the system that I felt a change was needed. Now with the Virgos that feeling is gone! I love and admire the Virgos so much that I have since had many opportunities to purchase far more expensive sets of speakers, but none of these others have dethroned the Virgos in my sytem yet. If you are curious, here is my system. VAC 100/100 with KT88 Gold Lions ('68 vintage) and Brimar 4003s, Theta Miles, Bybee power cords, Synergistic Designer's Reference interconnects and Resolution Reference speaker cables on top with Signature II's on the bottom. Components are on Bright Star Big Rocks with a Little Star on the Miles, I use a Target B2 stand, with sand filled legs.

Transparent, 3-D soundstage, detail detail detail

Have to put them in the middle of the room

Great speakers, there is a good chance I don't have to upgrade any more.

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Maggie 1.6, Newform Research R645

After 60 or so previous reviews, I don't think I can add more. Just want to contribute a little to help increase the pleasure of fellow Virgo lovers when listening. These speakers are very good NEAR field speakers. To get the conductor's seat, set the speakers along the Long wall of the room, as far apart as possible (mine is approx. 10') and sit as close to the midpoint between the speakers as possible, and enjoy. Remember, do not toe in the speakers too much.

To PHil (two reviews down), don't mean to rub-in, mine are bi-ampable. They do exist, you just have to look arround.

Great image, bass, easy to drive

none

Brilliant. This is an excellent product. Finish is great too. I have it just broken in, but it is still getting better. Lovely. I thought my Sony CD-player was a bit aggressive. Not anymore.
Hey all you Americans with your strong $, if you want to save money, send an e-mail,I will name you a reliable and honest dealer near Frankfurt, Germany.

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Magnepans, B&W's, Revel, others

imaging,dynamic range ,tonal balance and micro detail reproduction

lacks the devastating bass found in large loudspeakers

the virgo properly set up and and mated will have u giggling like a sixth former
it presents music like many speakers simply can't
apart from large tractrix horn ,you won't get better soundstage for the mullah
if you can listen to it do not miss the opportunity
the virgo is best driven with moderate power amplifiers (60 watts or so )i have used it with Lavardin IT and Brinkman integrated to some nice result
i also heard it with meracus amps and is simply fabulous
(meracus makes the on board amp for Audiophysic subwoofers)
it has a slightly odd room placement that best described as marriage challenging
and ah! it will introduce u to all sorts of music ,i personally listen to jazz but im getting into IGGY POP
big time
it benefits good cabling ,the audiophysic importer in the uk,Bill Huston of aanvill audio suplied me with Analysis plus Cables ,very good match
all and all a trouser flapping bargain (subjective)

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altec 604 8g ,studer studio monitor a5 ,ars acoustica ,b&w 803 ,living voice avatar

deep 3d soundstage,detail,easy to drive,airy, goodlooking

possitioning

Very good speaker and I think working better with tubes.
My equipment: CLEARAUDIO SOLUTION+MORCH DP6+CLEARAUDIO VICTORY H
ELECTROCOMPANIET EMC-1
CLEARAUDIO BALANCE (PHONO)
BAT VK-5i
BAT VK-60
CABLES EVERYWARE SPM (EXPECT CD PREAMP SILTECH 5-60 GOLD)

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ATC-20, ODEON , TEMPO III ,SYSTEM AUDIO 1070 ,B&W802 III.

Airy, big deep soundstage, accurate bass, it is best this price gategory

nothing

Audio physic virgo is simply best speakers this price gategory.Soundstage is amazing, deep and accurate.But i can tell that new model 3 is much better, it is like Avanti 3 , Audio Physic is here to Finland best speakers what you can buy for money. .I think Audio Physic, Acapella, Dunlavy, Avalon, Wilson and Mangnepan 20 is best speakers if you want best.happy listening tapsa

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many top speakers